After debuting eight new original holiday movies in 2021, BET+ is getting even more into the seasonal spirit this year with 10 more titles rolling out beginning Nov. 3, Variety has learned exclusively.
The 2022 slate features films starring Ne-Yo, Sereyah, Romeo Miller, LeToya Luckett and LaLa Milan, as well as returning BET+ holiday movie staples like Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson and Dorien Wilson. The titles come from directors and writers including Victoria Rowell (who also appears in “A Christmas Gift”), Robin Givens, Bree West and Patricia Cuffie Jones.
“We’re committed to bringing quality Black stories to the screen and the holidays are no exception,” BET+ executive vice president and general manager Devin Griffin said. “Year after year, our members devour holiday programming; in fact, our original holiday films continue to out-perform, which is why we’re committed to growing our investment in this area of the service. But it’s not just about meeting demand, it’s also about authenticity. Our cast and crews are a powerhouse of Black excellence from creatives behind the camera like Victoria Rowell, Robin Givens and Patricia Cuffie Jones to the incredible performances of talent like Ne-Yo, Serayah, Romeo Miller, Dorien Wilson and Jasmine Guy, to name a few. With a weekly rollout of content come November, we’re excited to help our members celebrate and enjoy the holidays all season long.”
“BET+ provides filmmakers like myself the latitude to tell diverse stories with raw accuracy,” “A Blackjack Christmas” director and co-writer and “A Christmas Gift” star Rowell said. “One of my foster mothers, Barbara Sterling, came to America from Kingston, Jamaica with a dream and three suitcases. Witnessing Barbara’s journey, self-determination and grit inspired me to write family holiday drama, ‘Blackjack Christmas.’ You won’t see that anywhere else.”
Rowell added: “I am immeasurably thankful to BET+ for making a way for undiluted black stories to be heard and seen in our various voices and dialects. Female filmmakers have a unique sensibility and approach to producing, directing, writing and more. BET+ consumers know they can count on content that mirrors who they/we are whether it be aspirational, inspirational, dramatic, faith-based or comedy. Ultimately, ‘A Blackjack Christmas,’ provides a family tale of compassion and balm for the soul this holiday season.”
See BET+’s full lineup of 2022 holiday original movies and their premiere dates below.
A WESLEY CHRISTMAS – NOVEMBER 3
Adult siblings Chris, Todd, and Cydney Wesley travel to their childhood home to celebrate Christmas with their parents and the entire Wesley family. With everyone together and all their physical and emotional baggage in tow, the annual Wesley family holiday promises to be a festive, hot-mess of a Christmas with life-changing impacts on the whole family.
Cast: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Mike Merrill
Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones
Writer: Bree West
Produced by: Octet Productions
THE FIRST NOELLE – NOVEMBER 10
After twenty years of friendship, Terrance and Noelle finally decide to date each other but ultimately break up when Terrance moves to London for work. Now that Terrance is back in Atlanta for Christmas with his new girl, also named Noelle, our lead is determined to get him back and say goodbye to being friend-zoned forever.
Cast: Novi Brown, LaLa Milan, Todd Anthony
Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones
Writers: Ariel Driskell and Patricia Cuffie Jones
Executive Producers: Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer and Fernando Szew for MarVista Entertainment
Co-Executive Producer: Adam Shepard for MarVista Entertainment
Producers: Autumn Bailey-Ford from Autumn Bailey Entertainment and Karl Horstmann at Triple Horse Studios.
CHRISTMAS PARTY CRASHERS – NOVEMBER 17
When two grifters meet after crashing the same millionaire’s Christmas party, they agree to work together to achieve each other’s “mission,” not knowing that they would find something more than money or fame – true love.
Cast: Skye Townsend, Jaime Callica, Cocoa Brown
Director and Co-Producer: Sheldon Epps
Writer: Scotty Mullen and Chad Quinn
Executive Producers: Todd Y. Murata, Larry Grimaldi, Hannah Pillemer, Fernando Szew for MarVista Entertainment
Producer: Susan Ratliff for A Ratliff Concepts Production
THE CHRISTMAS CLAPBACK – NOVEMBER 24
Every year the three Miles sisters, Jasmine, Kira, and Tisha, battle each other for a chance to win the neighborhood Christmas Church Cook-Off competition. But when Aaliyah, the vivacious Social Media Influencer, enters the competition, the sisters must choose to rise together, or fall divided.
Cast: Nadine Ellis, Porscha Coleman, Candace Maxwell, Kara Royster, Eltony Williams, Brandon Sutton, Lisa Arrindell
Director: Robin Givens
Writer: Christopher Oscar Pena and Joy Kecken
Produced by: Stargazer
HOLIDAY HIDEAWAY – NOVEMBER 24
Carly is the queen of holiday celebrations, but her mistletoe misstep sends her running to a Holiday Hideaway that teaches her the importance of family, forgiveness and fighting for love.
Cast: Camille Winbush, Vivica A Fox, Leonard Earl Howze, Rodney Van Johnson
Director: Cole Patterson
Writer: Sharon Brathwaite
Produced by: Freeze Frame Entertainment
THE SOUND OF CHRISTMAS – NOVEMBER 24
A down-on-her-luck music teacher leads a wealthy widower away from his gold-digging girlfriend and back to love and music during the Christmas holidays.
Cast: Ne-Yo, Serayah, Draya Michele, Michael Bless, Alijah Kai
Director & Writer: Booker T Mattison
Executive Producer: Tressa Azarel Smallwood
ROLLING INTO CHRISTMAS – DECEMBER 1
Two childhood sweethearts who shared a passion for roller skating are reunited 15 years later during the holidays, forcing them to question their love and life choices.
Cast: Rhyon Nicole Brown, Donny Carrington, Brandee Evans, Gary Dourdan
Director: Trey Haley
Writer: Greg Anderson
Produced by: Swirl Films
A MIRACLE BEFORE CHRISTMAS – DECEMBER 8
With a little help from an angel, Mercedes Wright, a fast-talking popular relationship therapist with all the answers when it comes to fixing everyone else’s marriage, must now use the magic of Christmas to find the secret to save her own.
Cast: LeToya Luckett, Romeo Miller, Keith David, Demetrius Shipp Jr, Paula Jai Parker and Porscha Coleman
Director, Writer & Producer: LazRael Lison
A BLACKJACK CHRISTMAS – DECEMBER 15
A story of two sisters – one who migrated to and built a nice life in the US, while the other stayed behind in their native Jamaica. When addiction threatens to tear the family apart, the sisters find their way back to one another and rebuild their bond.
Cast: Dawnn Lewis, Charmin Lee, Adam Lazarre – White
Director: Victoria Rowell
Writers: Mezan Ayoka and Victoria Rowell
Produced by: Days Ferry Productions
A CHRISTMAS GIFT – DECEMBER 22
In a failed attempt to cancel Christmas, the McKenzie’s find themselves ultimately navigating through unexpected guests, secrets, and revelations that will have a lasting effect on their families.
Cast: Blue Kimble, Noree Victoria, Javon Johnson, Victoria Rowell, Aaron D Spears, Nadia Simms, Tiffany Snow, Marc Jones, Cayen Martin
Director: Christopher A. Nolen
Writer: Cassandra Mann
Producer: Christopher A. Nolen for Nferno Media Entertainment
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